FDA staff raises safety issues over Trevena opioid injection

FDA staff reviewers on Tuesday warned that Trevena Inc.'s opioid injection to treat acute pain could be abused and potentially lead to overdose. The treatment, oliceridine, aims to manage moderate-to-severe acute pain in adult patients for whom an I.V. opioid is necessary.

FDA staff reviewers on Tuesday warned that Trevena Inc.'s opioid injection to treat acute pain could be abused and potentially lead to overdose. The treatment, oliceridine, aims to manage moderate-to-severe acute pain in adult patients for whom an I.V. opioid is necessary. The injection should be administered in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. An FDA expert panel is expected to vote on the efficacy and safety of the treatment on Thursday. While FDA is not obliged to follow the panel's advice, it generally does so.